The natural history of dementia in Down's syndrome
H. M. Evenhuis
Institute for the Mentally Retarded, Zwammerdam, The Netherlands.
In a prospective longitudinal study with death as the end point in 17
middle-aged patients with Down's syndrome, dementia was clinically
diagnosed in 15 patients, by means of careful observations in daily
circumstances. Autopsies were performed in 10 cases: 8 demented patients
and 2 nondemented patients. Neuropathologically, Alzheimer-type
abnormalities were demonstrated in 9 patients, both demented and
nondemented, and combined Alzheimer-type abnormalities with infarctions
were demonstrated in 1 patient. In the 14 demented patients who did not
show evidence of cerebrovascular or systemic vascular disease, dementia had
an early onset and was rapidly progressive (mean age at onset, 51.3 years
in the moderately retarded patients and 52.6 years in the severely retarded
patients; mean duration of symptoms, respectively, 4.9 and 5.2 years).
Cognitive and behavioral decline corresponded to symptoms of dementia of
the Alzheimer's type in patients without Down's syndrome, but often were
not recognized early. In the present group of patients, there was a
remarkably high incidence of gait and speech deterioration. Also, the
incidence of epileptic seizures and myoclonus was about eightfold, as
compared with dementia of the Alzheimer's type in patients without Down's
syndrome.
Aging and Down Syndrome: Implications for Physical Therapy
Barnhart and Connolly
ptjournal 2007;87:1399-1406.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
99mTc-HMPAO Brain Perfusion Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography in Children with Down Syndrome: Relationship to Epilepsy, Thyroid Functions, and Congenital Heart Disease
Altiay et al.
J Child Neurol 2006;21:610-614.
ABSTRACT
A comparison of reports of caregiver burden between foster family care providers and staff caregivers in other settings: A pilot study
McCallion et al.
Dementia 2005;4:401-412.
ABSTRACT
Age-related cortical grey matter reductions in non-demented Down's syndrome adults determined by MRI with voxel-based morphometry
Teipel et al.
Brain 2004;127:811-824.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Down's syndrome and dementia
Stanton and Coetzee
Adv. Psychiatr. Treat. 2004;10:50-58.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Relation of Corpus Callosum and Hippocampal Size to Age in Nondemented Adults With Down's Syndrome
Teipel et al.
Am. J. Psychiatry 2003;160:1870-1878.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
The Assessment of Behavioural Decline in Adults with Down's Syndrome
McKenzie et al.
J Intellect Disabil 2002;6:175-184.
ABSTRACT
Practical Geriatics: Issues Affecting the Lives of Older Persons With Developmental Disabilities
Griswold and Goldstein
Psychiatr. Serv. 1999;50:315-317.
FULL TEXT
A prospective, longitudinal study of functional decline in individuals with Down's syndrome
McKenzie et al.
J Intellect Disabil 1998;2:98-104.
ABSTRACT
The Medical and Health Status of Older People With Mental Retardation in Australia
Ashman and Suttie
Journal of Applied Gerontology 1996;15:57-72.
ABSTRACT
Common Syndromes and Management Issues for Primary Care Physicians: Down Syndrome An Update and Review for the Primary Pediatrician
Cooley and Graham
CLIN PEDIATR 1991;30:233-253.